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Visual ArtsErin West and Stephanie Luzny

To begin this year, each of our art students created their own Riverview Rock! Students thought about how they could use these tiny artworks to spread love and kindness throughout our town and beyond, and they each designed and painted their original rock to brighten another's day. These rocks will be assembled into a "River of Kindness" in the front of our school soon and will be on display there until after our Empty Bowls night. Afterwards, students will each "release" their rock into the world and we will track their journey through our school Facebook page. Join us in spreading the love by creating and hiding Riverview Rocks of your own!

Kindergarten Art : MondrainKindergarten artists are exploring two of the elements of art. LINE & COLOR! Our artist of inspiration is the famous Dutch painter, PIET MONDARIN. He was known for using vertical and horizontal straight lines. His color choices helped our kindergarten artists learn to identify the PRIMARY COLOR family. RED, YELLOW & BLUE!

First Grade Art~ KandinskyThe world famous abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky was the spark of inspiration for our first graders. Students relied on their prior knowledge of the three art elements: line, shape and color. Students discovered that Kandinsky's brain was wire a little different then the average person. He could SEE music and HEAR color. This is known as synesthesia! ​​While creating students listened to jazz, classical, rock & roll, and hip hop to help them make creative decisions about what kinds of line and shapes could be used to describe each genre of music. Then students used a water color crayon resist to add bold color throughout their piece.

Second Grade Art- Drawing with Scissors Inspired by Henri Matisse second grade artists refined their cutting skills using scissors as their drawing tool. Students studied ORGANIC & GEOMETRIC shapes. Creating paper cutouts. They also used their knowledge of positive and negative space to make an even more interesting piece of art. ​​

​Third Grade Empty Bowls Project - Decorative Coil Pots

Decorative coils on a pinch pot

For their Empty Bowls Project, our third grade artists are creating decorative coil pots on pinch pot bases. Building on their previous learning, third grade students first constructed a pinch pot base, much like the pinch pots from kindergarten and first grade. Then students learned a new method of hand-building with clay - the coil method. Students learned to score and slip their pinch pot base to add a variety of decorative coils to the top, giving each sculpture a unique design!

Fourth Grade Art - Slab Bowls of the States!

State bowl in progress

As fourth grade students study US history, our fourth grade artists are choosing a state to study and use as inspiration for a state-themed clay slab bowl. Students first chose a state (not SC) that they had been to or that they wanted to learn more about. Then they researched the state and chose several images that were connected to that state; for example, Florida has oranges and sunshine while Texas has longhorns and the Alamo. Then students rolled out a slab of clay and

​Fifth Grade Art - Color Theory and Creative Color Wheels

Color Theory worksheet

Fifth grade students are learning about the art element of color and how color is used in art. After studying the color wheel (which we learned was first organized into a circular shape by Sir Isaac Newton) and learning about many different color families and color schemes, students will turn this learning into a beautiful design of patterns and colors in the shape of a color wheel. Please come by the art room when these color wheels are finished to see how we use the artworks to decorate the art stools!

Sixth Grade Art - What is Art Anyway?

Sixth grade artists began the year by considering some pretty big questions in art: What is Art? Why do people create Art? Where can you find Art? How do people create Art? Why is Art important? To answer these questions, students debated each of these questions in smaller groups and reported their conversations and possible answers to the class. These answers were then assembled and posted for all to reflect upon.

Sixth grade artists have studied the early clay vessels of several ancient civilizations and have used inspiration from these early vessels to design their own piece of coil pottery.

​Studio Art - Empty Bowls Project - Clay Slab Containers

Student sketchbook example

Studio Artists are learning how to construct decorative containers using the slab method of hand-building with clay. Before beginning their container, students created sketches and mood boards in their sketchbooks describing their plan and the ideas inspiring it. Students then rolled out slabs for the base and walls of their container, and some students are also adding lids. Once the basic form is created, students add sculpted, impressed, or incised designs into their container, then leave it to dry before bisque firing. After the initial firing, pieces will be glazed and re-fired before being displayed at our Empty Bowls Night!

Media Arts - Photography Basics

During the first trimester of media arts, students focus on the art of photography. First, we invited professional nature photographer, Kelley Luikey, to come share her work and her thoughts on photography with our class. Then we learned about the history of photography and photographic processes, and also learned a few tips for using our cameras and composing better photographs. Next, we took a field trip to downtown Beaufort to capture some creative images that communicated what Beaufort means to each of us! Afterwards, we returned to the media arts studio to edit each of our images in Photoshop to make them look even better! Our hope is to create a calendar with our photographs - look for it soon!

​For our Empty Bowls project, media arts students will use photography to find hidden letters in their environment and to create words that communicate the spirit of Empty Bowls and Stop Hunger Now.

Found letters photography example

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Visual Arts - Stephanie Luzny and Erin West

All K-6 students take visual arts at Riverview. 7th and 8th grade students may elect to take classes in the arts.

​Kindergarten, First and Second Grade Art

​Cycle 1 art classes focus on building art fundamentals for our youngest artists. K-2 students are introduced to the art elements of line, shape, color, texture, and space and learn art vocabulary to help them describe these elements in the art they encounter. Students create two-dimensional artworks in various dry and wet media, and use clay and paper to create three-dimensional artworks. Students are introduced to art and artists from the dawn of civilization to contemporary art, and learn that art is a language used to communicate ideas that cross distance and time. Students learn to read the artworks of others through the art they create and learn to communicate about themeslves through their own art.

Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Art

Cycle 2 art classes focus on further developing the art concepts and skills introduced in the cycle 1 classes. 3rd - 5th grade art students hone their art skills by learning to draw from observation, building on their knowledge of the art elements of line, shape, value, and texture. They investigate the element of color through explorations in color theory and color mixing. These students develop their understanding of the element of space through the creation of sculptures in wire, cardboard, paper and found materials, and contintue to investigate art and artists from around the world and from their own backyard.

Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade Art

Cycle 3 art classes shift their focus from building art skills to developing an understanding of the creative process. Armed with a firm grasp of art concepts and techniques, students begin to explore what it means to be an artist. Students investigate various possibilities and generate original solutions to each art problem. They are encouraged to select the media and techniques that will help them best communicate their artistic ideas, and spend more time reflecting on art processes and products. These practices prepare students to be independent artists in their final years of middle school and beyond. Most 6th grade students are enrolled in visual art and 7th and 8th grade students may elect to take Studio Art or Media Art.